Air India Prepares for International Routes with New Dreamliner
Air India is set to deploy its newest Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft for international long-haul services beginning February 2026. This marks a significant milestone as it is the first Dreamliner to join the fleet after the airline's privatization.
The aircraft completed its title transfer at Boeing's Everett factory in Seattle on January 7 and subsequently landed in Delhi on January 11. The designation 'line fit' signifies that the aircraft was manufactured with the airline's specific configurations directly from the factory. This is a notable contrast to the last line-fit Dreamliner previously acquired by Air India in October 2017, when the carrier was under government ownership.
Fleet Expansion and Modernization
The Tata Group-owned airline anticipates inducting five more wide-body planes, including A350-1000s and B787-9s, within the current year. Air India's ambitious order book comprises 350 Airbus and 220 Boeing aircraft. Several of the airline's legacy B787-8 aircraft are currently undergoing retrofits, with many scheduled to re-enter service with updated interiors in 2026.
By the close of the current year, Air India aims to have approximately 60 percent of its wide-body fleet equipped with modern interiors. The airline has absorbed 26 B787-8s and six B787-9s from the erstwhile Vistara, following its merger. The Air India Group currently operates over 300 aircraft in total.